On this date in 1910, D. M. Lynch, a Jamestown junk vendor, defended himself in opposition to accusations tied to an outdated Pennsylvania contract dispute, explaining his escapes from detectives, his aspect of the authorized battles, and his intent to return east to settle the case whereas sustaining his innocence.
Right here is the entire story because it appeared within the paper that day:
LYNCH TELLS HIS SIDE OF STORY
JAMESTOWN JUNK MAN LACKS ALL APPEARANCES OF VICIOUSNESS—RELATES HIS SIDE OF CASE.
Jamestown, N. D., Oct. 5.—As he goes about his duties of gathering junk on this metropolis and the neighborhood D. M. Lynch reveals not one of the marks of viciousness that might be naturally connected to a person who had escaped a number of occasions from a detective despatched all the best way from Scranton, Pa. to convey him again. However such is the person and apart from his little tilts with the detective he “saved his eye off” a number of different officers, as he expresses it.
Mr. Lynch just isn’t a person one may look forward to finding on a junk wagon nor has he taken to this enterprise from lack of schooling or commerce expertise. It’s his enterprise during which he has discovered a possibility on this state and he’s making good at it. Moreover different property he owns a number of automobiles of ties in cities close to Jamestown and it’s to make preparations for the safekeeping of those that he’s remaining right here earlier than returning to Pennsylvania to fulfill all of the corners within the courts.
In discussing his affairs he tells his aspect of the story one thing like this:
“The deal that led as much as the detective, messes, Michels, stems from one began a very long time in the past. I used to be a contractor in a small method and was awarded the contract to construct a church basement in a small city in Pennsylvania. I started work within the fall and had a stone crusher on the grounds to assist operations. After a short while the officers of the church informed me that the moneys was coming in slowly and requested me to discontinue the work till the next spring. This I did, however within the spring labor was greater and I requested for a ten per cent enhance in my figures to cowl the distinction. This the church refused to grant and I needed to take it to court docket earlier than getting my value.
Whereas the gear was mendacity idle, a few of my crushed stone had been used for different functions and upon my standard grievance I introduced felony proceedings in opposition to one of many church officers on cost of larceny. This officer in flip was informed by the choose that it was not felony, however a civil grievance that I had. I expressed my views that it made no distinction whether or not a person stole my stone or my horse, that I’d have a felony grievance in opposition to him in a single case as the opposite. The churchman instantly began a go well with in opposition to me for slander for what I had stated.
When this occurred I used to be obliged to get bond and an outdated good friend of mine, Louis Berg, readily consented to be my bondsman. Through the subsequent eighteen months I attempted repeatedly to get the case earlier than the court docket and clear it out of the best way, nevertheless it was all the time postponed. Meantime contractors, enterprise males swindled, my spouse died, the household was separated and I made a decision to strive my fortune within the west. I got here to North Dakota desiring to once more enter the contracting enterprise however discovered no opening and noticed an opportunity to generate profits in junk. Such alternatives of gathering massive portions of iron would have been snapped up within the east way back.
“Within the meantime the case was introduced into court docket in my absence and a judgment for $1,000 secured in opposition to me. My bondsman naturally grew to become nervous when he knew nothing extra about me than that I used to be gathering junk out right here. He and the detective got here collectively, however I’m assured Mr. Berg would have been happy to return after I confirmed him my monetary standing. McHale, although, needed to take me again.”
In some ways it’s amusing to listen to Mr. Lynch communicate of the detective. One second he laughs heartily on the complete continuing though by no means boastful of his clashes with the officer. The following minute he philosophizes like a deep scholar of human nature on his place as a person manacled and jailed. He’s not over keen on telling of the expertise and does so solely when he appears to overlook himself.
He says his defiance of the detectives in Fargo and his escape to Moorhead the place he was afterward taken by three officers is all true. He was then taken to St. Paul, discharged from the municipal and district courts between occasions spent in jail or roughly open insurrection, and says that by way of his counsel introduced concerning the resolution that no native males had authority to put arms upon him.
He was additionally counselled to watch out in the best way I resisted the detective as a result of if I damage him that might make a neighborhood cost in opposition to me. He decided to exit with any officer from the big cities and consented to accompany him out of the state.
“It should be remembered that I used to be handcuffed on the time I left St. Paul so it was not possible to take away the irons and this makes ridiculous the story printed in japanese papers that I lower the display in a Pullman automobile window and jumped from the prepare. The detective took me within the smoking automobile for a short while and whereas there he grew to become sleepy and dozed. He sat within the seat forward of me and, watching my probability, I slipped out the door and dropped off at just a little station in Illinois.
“I don’t even keep in mind the title of that city now. I don’t care to say how I removed {the handcuffs} that also sure me, however it’s ample to say {that a} good friend helped me and afterward I drifted again to Jamestown and right here I’m. Afraid of his coming again for me? I believe he has had sufficient, but when he has not will probably be all proper for him to return. I shall not run and I don’t assume he’ll take me.
“I intend to return, although, as quickly as I get the iron I now personal cared for and can attempt to clear up the case as shortly as attainable. Then I shall come again to this state and go my method as earlier than. I’m doing what I believe is true and no man has a proper to deprive me of my liberty.
“And that jogs my memory that by way of my counsel in St. Paul I’ve began a go well with for $10,000 in opposition to McHale for depriving me of my liberty. He might have to return up right here to reply, too.”
Kate Almquist is the social media supervisor for InForum. After working as an intern, she joined The Discussion board full time beginning in January 2022. Readers can attain her at kalmquist@forumcomm.com.
